The 5 Best Iron Supplements for Kids of 2023, According to a Dietitian

Is an Iron Supplement Beneficial for Kids?

Iron supplements aren’t necessary for all kids. “Too much of anything in life, including iron, can be a bad thing and toxic,” says Gardner. Allow a healthcare professional to help determine if iron supplementation is needed and if so, how much and how long.

These are the kids that could best benefit from an iron supplement recommendation.

• Kids with iron deficiency. Iron supplementation is beneficial for correcting an iron deficiency. It’s important to speak with a healthcare professional before trying to supplement iron, especially if your child has a specific medical condition.
• Toddlers who drink excessive milk.Getting too much milk, especially in place of iron rich foods, can increase the risk of iron deficiency.If your toddler is consuming more than 24 ounces of dairy per day, the excess calcium can begin to block the absorption of iron. In that case, it becomes more urgent to begin cutting back to therecommended serving size of milk for a toddler. Cutting back on the dairy helps make sure the iron supplement can get absorbed as much as possible.
• Exclusively breast-fed infants. Full-term infants are typically born with built-in iron stores lasting approximately four to six months. Exclusivelybreastfed infants may benefit from iron supplementationstarting around 4 months of age if they were born full-term. Exclusively breastfed infants who were born premature may require iron supplementation earlier.
• Kids who don’t get enough iron in their diet. Eating a diet low in iron can increase the risk of iron deficiency. In this instance, a healthcare professional may recommend an iron supplement with the appropriate dosage for your child’s needs. Achild who is vegan or vegetarianor who onlyeats a limited number of foodsmay be at a higher risk for iron deficiency if they don’t eat foods high in iron.
• Teens with heavy periods. Heavy blood loss can increase risk for iron deficiency.Teens with heavy periodsare at a higher risk for iron deficiency and may benefit from an iron supplement.

Children Who May Not Benefit From Iron Supplements

“Before you go running to the store to supplement your kiddo with iron, consult with your doctor and ideally get a hemoglobin and hematocrit blood test to help guide any supplementation, if necessary,” says Gardner.

In fact, regularly taking an iron supplement when it is not needed can result in iron overload. Iron overload can cause pain in the joints, abdominal discomfort, and heart problems. Fortunately, iron overload can be avoided by not taking extra iron if your body doesn’t need it. A healthcare professional can help determine if an iron supplement is best for a child’s needs.

The following may not benefit from an iron supplement:

• Kids who have normal blood iron levels. If blood work shows iron levels are within normal limits, they likely will not benefit from an iron supplement and may risk getting too much iron.
• Kids who eat a diet with foods high in iron. If a child eats a variety of foods that includes foods high in iron, they will likely not benefit from or need an iron supplement.
• Infants on iron-fortified formula. If an infant is not exclusively breastfed, they may not need an iron supplement depending if the formula used has iron added to it.

How We Select Supplements

Our team works hard to be transparent about why we recommend certain supplements; you can read more about ourdietary supplement methodology here.

We support supplements that are evidence-based and rooted in science. We value certain product attributes that we find to be associated with the highest quality products. We prioritize products that are third-party tested and certified by one of three independent, third party certifiers: USP, NSF, or ConsumerLab.com.

It's important to note that theFDAdoes not review dietary supplements for safety and effectiveness before they go to market. Our team of experts has created a detailed, science-backed methodology to choose the supplements we recommend.

What to Look For in Iron Supplements for Kids

Third-Party Testing

第三方测试发送t的补品o a lab where they are tested to ensure they contain what they say they contain and are not contaminated with specific high-risk, common contaminants. However, it’s important to note:

• Third party testing does not test to see if a product is effective or safe for everyone, and it does not ensure the supplement will not interact with other supplements or medications.
• Not all third-party testing is created equal. It is not uncommon for supplement companies to pay labs for certificates after conducting minimal to no testing.
• The third party certifications we can trust are: ConsumerLab.com, NSF, and USP. However, these certifications are difficult to obtain and/or expensive for manufacturers, so many companies choose not to get their products tested by one of these three organizations.
• Sometimes products tested by these three companies are more expensive to try to offset the cost they pay for certification.
• Just because a supplement is not tested by one of these three companies, it does not mean it’s a bad product. We recommend doing some research on the reputability of the manufacturer, and calling up the manufacturer and their testing lab to determine their protocols and decide if you feel comfortable consuming the supplement.

Form

There are many different forms of iron, and ferrous sulfate, gluconate, are commonly used in iron supplements. These forms of iron may cause some stomach discomfort for some.

The iron types mentioned in this article are carbonyl iron, polysaccharide iron complex, ferrous bisglycinate chelate, and ferric saccharate. Carbonyl, polysaccharide complex, and chelated forms of iron are considered to be easier to digest with lower risk of stomach issues.

Ingredients & Potential Interactions

It is essential to carefully read the ingredient list and nutrition facts panel of a supplement to know which ingredients and how much of each ingredient is included, relative to the recommended daily value of that ingredient. Please bring the supplement label to a healthcare provider to review the different ingredients contained in the supplement and any potential interactions between these ingredients and other supplements and medications your child is taking.

While more common in adults, some medications used for Parkinson’s, restless leg syndrome, hypothyroidism, or proton pump inhibitors for heartburn may interact with iron supplements.

Iron Dosage

The following are the recommended daily amount of iron for infants and children:

• Birth to 6 months: 0.27 mg
• 7 - 12个月婴儿:11毫克
• 儿童1 - 3 years: 7 mg
• Children 4-8 years: 10 mg
• Children 9-13 years: 8 mg
• Teen boys 14-18 years: 11 mg
• Teen girls 14-18 years: 15 mg

How Much is Too Much?

Children taking iron supplements when it is not needed may encounter excessively high blood levels of iron which could cause digestive discomfort. At extremely high doses, which could be from accidental overdose in children, too much iron could cause serious side effects such as organ failure, coma, or even death.This is why it's important to store iron supplements out of a child's reach.

The upper limit (UL) for iron for infants and children up to 13 years of age is 40 mg per day—combined from food and supplements. The UL for iron for teens 14-18 years old is 45 mg per day.

Note a healthcare professional may prescribe an iron supplement dose higher than this amount in cases of iron deficiency to bring iron levels back to a healthy range. However, unless otherwise directed, it is best for children’s iron intake to stay below the UL of 40 mg per day.